a banner showcasing rounded still images from We're All Going to the World's Fair, So Pretty and Lingua Franca with the wrods TRAMPS, TROUBLEMAKERS AND TRAILBLAZERS: TRANS FILMMAKERS to the left
It appears that the news has broken that Caden Mark Gardner and I have programmed a series on Trans Filmmakers for the Criterion Channel. These films will be available in April
www.criterion.com/current/post...
Sad news. Mary Beth Hurt was such an interesting, spiky actress--it was always a pleasurable jolt when she showed up on screen. I would recommend Interiors, Chilly Scenes of Winter, or The World According to Garp as starting points. variety.com/2026/film/ne...
James Tolkan in Back to the Future
Rest in peace, James Tolkan; a fantastic character actor.
If you were ever thinking "What were the movies like in the 1970s and '80s?," you might well land on "They were like Valerie Perrine."
Farewell to her.
❤️
There's a very cheap little horror movie, "Coherence," where Nicholas Brendon essentially plays himself as a washed-up alcoholic TV star. He improvised it all. He's the best thing in it. There was a lot of talent in this guy that never saw the light of day.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, Nicholas Brendon, has passed away at the age of 54. 🕊️
Read More: bit.ly/3NAJybe
The full performance of “I Lied To You” from ‘SINNERS’ at the 98th Oscars.
#Sinners #Oscars2026
“Tonight we are celebrating people, not AI. Animation is more than a prompt, it’s an art form that needs to be protected.”
— Will Arnett presenting the awards for Animation at the Oscars
@angelicabastien.bsky.social and i answer the question of the moment: "what does "sinners" record-breaking oscar nomination haul mean?"
for the academy? everything.
for the future of black film? history tells us it won't change much.
for @vulture.com.
A screen cap from the Criterion Channel.
William Wellman's NOTHING SACRED (1937) w/ Fredric March and Carole Lombard is now on Criterion Channel.
This is the MoMA restoration from the original Technicolor separations, w/ warm, golden tones that are completely lost in other transfers.
It looks and sounds glorious. #FilmSky
Robert Duvall as Bob Hodges grips his service gun in the film Colors.
Robert Duvall - 📽️ Colors (Dennis Hopper, 1988)
Duvall grants Hodges his signature weathered sincerity, and he steals the gang violence movie wholly, blowing a loose cannon Sean Penn off the screen. RIP to a versatile icon, who was legendary yet somehow slightly underappreciated of late.
#filmsky
Chadwick Boseman and James van der Beek both died in their 40s of an illness that's treatable if a colonoscopy catches it but almost no insurer covers them for people under 45, this is what Engels meant by "social murder"
RIP Bud Cort. How else would you even pay tribute to him.
Duvall as Boo Radley
Duvall as Tom Hagen in The Godfather
Duvall as Kilgore in Apocalypse Now
Duvall as Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies
RIP Robert Duvall: as central to American film as anyone in his generation
Tom Noonan as Mr. Ulman sits suited in a living room chair leaning on a cane in the film The House of the Devil.
Tom Noonan - 📽️ The House of the Devil (Ti West, 2009)
RIP to one of my favourite character actors, an effortless master of quiet and haunting tone. Noonan makes West’s flawed Satanic haunted house movie spark to life in his handful of moments, superpowering any genre tale through talent.
#filmsky
Michael Beach as Lane “Pluto” Franklin in the film One False Move.
Michael Beach - 📽️ One False Move (Carl Franklin, 1992)
Beach is wonderful against type as a quietly chilling, psychotic villain. His cold and brief remarks to crime partner Billy Bob Thornton in the car set the stage for an unpredictable neo-noir showdown with sheriff Bill Paxton at the climax.
Idris Elba as Colin Evans stands on a doorstep in the rain at night. Taraji P. Henson as Terri Granger answers the door, in the film No Good Deed.
Idris Elba - 📽️ No Good Deed (Sam Miller, 2014)
Too few of Elba’s movies are as good as he deserves, and this is no exception. But he is the reason to see it, essentially as a home invasion horror monster, skulking across rooms and terrorizing Taraji P. Henson with lumbering physicality.
#filmsky
Mark Boone Junior as Mike sits at the bar with a glass of beer in the film Trees Lounge.
Mark Boone Junior - 📽️ Trees Lounge (Steve Buscemi, 1996)
Buscemi made the ultimate darkly comic bar movie, starring opposite his longtime stage comedy partner Boone as Mike—whose drinking is tearing his family life apart. The naturalistic character actor is at home in this phenomenal ensemble.
Zooey Deschanel as Noel in the film All the Real Girls.
Zooey Deschanel - 📽️ All the Real Girls (David Gordon Green, 2003)
This performance was a big deal in film fandom at the time, but the movie is mentioned a lot less today. Deschanel became one to watch months before Elf in Green’s drama as the naive Noel, spellbinding opposite a sly Paul Schneider.
Cate Blanchett as Jane Winslett-Richardson sits inside a research vessel ship in the film The Life Aquatic witn Steve Zissou.
Cate Blanchett - 📽️ The Life Aquatic witn Steve Zissou (Wes Anderson, 2004)
A perfect naturally funny actor to play one normal character surrounded by weirdos, it’s a wonder Blanchett hasn’t returned to the Anderson universe. She’s so endearing as the reporter; I laugh just remembering the accent.
Arjun Rampal as Mukesh Mehra in the film Om Shanti Om.
Arjun Rampal - 📽️ Om Shanti Om (Farah Khan, 2007)
In the Bollywood masala modern classic starring Shah Rukh Khan, Rampal savours the part of deeply evil film producer Mukesh, who just can’t stop starting fires. His mistreatment of his wife (Deepika Padukone) frames the epic revenge story.
#filmsky
Keith Carradine as Coop points a gun in the film Trouble in Mind.
Keith Carradine - 📽️ Trouble in Mind (Alan Rudolph, 1985)
While mercilessly throwing fits, Rudolph muse Carradine shines as the chaotic Coop. In the surreal neo-noir, the incompetent gangster pisses off his wife (Lori Singer), a mob boss (Divine), and an ex-cop (Kris Kristofferson) in Rain City.
Hugh Laurie as Thomas Palmer in the film Sense and Sensibility.
Hugh Laurie - 📽️ Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee, 1995)
Released thirty years ago today, this is one of the strongest ensembles ever. Oscar-winning screenwriter Emma Thompson adapted the role of the bitter Mr. Palmer with longtime friend Laurie in mind. His hilarity helps make it such a comfort film.
Michael McKean as Mr. Green gawks at a pipe in the film Clue.
Michael McKean - 📽️ Clue (Jonathan Lynn, 1985)
Released forty years ago today, Clue is anchored by only perfect performances. One of the most rewarding to revisit is a rarely funnier McKean, granting Mr. Green foppish cluelessness until his hysterical closing kiss-off line. The guy can do anything.
Paul Sparks as Mark frowns with his hands in his pockets in the film Thoroughbreds.
Paul Sparks - 📽️ Thoroughbreds (Cory Finley, 2018)
One of our most versatile character actors, Sparks got a welcome longer showcase as Mark, controlling stepdad to Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy). He elicits such chills with every dismissive remark that his rowing machine becomes a creepy horror soundtrack.
Nobuko Miyamoto as Ryoko Itakura smokes a cigarette and lowers her sunglasses in the film A Taxing Woman.
Nobuko Miyamoto - 📽️ A Taxing Woman (Jūzō Itami, 1987)
Itami’s muse Miyamoto got one of her best roles as the tax investigator in this crime comedy. It’s hard to be prepared for the effortless deft tonal balance in their films together, and she plays this like an eccentric noir detective.
#filmsky
Me in the Criterion Closet: wow Hollow Man, what a film
Criterion employee: you aren’t allowed to bring movies in
Me in the Criterion Closet shaking my sleeves in an odd way: wow Hollow Man 2, what a film
My students are doing a Movie Poster Assignment, and I'm also participating. I chose Do the Right Thing
